Electronic target system and hit detection method

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic target system and a hit detection method. In certain embodiments, the electronic target system includes a target having a plurality of distinct sectors, each having a measurable capacitance, and a controller configured to determine the capacitance and the change in capacitance of each sector. The controller generally monitors the capacitance and the change in capacitance of each sector. When a sector&#39;s capacitance changes at least a designated amount—such as when a projectile pierces the sector and reduces the sector&#39;s area—the controller determines that the sector has been hit. In other embodiments, the electronic target system includes a target including one or more vibration sensors configured to detect vibrations in the target. Upon detecting these vibrations, the vibration sensors send responsive signals to a controller. The controller analyzes these signals to determine whether a sector has been hit.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This patent application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/209,670, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

There are various electronic target systems configured to detect when a projectile pierces a target of the electronic target system, an event that is sometimes called a “hit.” Certain of these electronic target systems use optical sensors to detect hits. Other electronic target systems use resistance or short circuiting to detect hits. These known electronic target systems tend to be too costly or bulky for the typical consumer, do not offer instantaneous feedback to the user upon projectile impact, and in certain instances lack feasibility. Some target systems are not compatible with certain caliber projectiles or non-conductive projectiles, which limits their usability. There is a need for new and improved electronic target systems.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic target system and a hit detection method.

In certain embodiments, the electronic target system includes a target having a plurality of distinct sectors, each having a measurable capacitance, and a controller configured to determine the capacitance and the change in capacitance of each sector over time. The controller generally monitors the capacitance and the change in capacitance of each sector. When a sector's capacitance changes at least a designated amount—such as when a projectile pierces the sector and reduces the sector's area—the controller determines that the sector has been hit. The controller activates a lighting device associated with the hit sector to indicate the hit to a user, and transmits information related to the hit to the user's mobile device.

In other embodiments, the electronic target system includes a target including one or more vibration sensors configured to detect vibrations in the target. Upon detecting these vibrations, the vibration sensors send responsive signals to a controller. The controller analyzes these signals to determine whether a sector has been hit (e.g., that a projectile has pierced the target).

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are front elevational, right side elevational, and back elevational views, respectively, of one embodiment of the electronic target system of the present disclosure including a target, a signal transfer clamp, a cable, and a control module.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are front elevational and back elevational views, respectively, of the target of the electronic target system of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the target of FIGS. 2A and 2B taken substantially along line 3A-3A of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the target of FIGS. 2A and 2B taken substantially along line 3B-3B of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3C is an end-on view of the target of FIGS. 2A and 2B at a lead/clamp interface.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are top front left perspective, left side elevational, and top plan views, respectively, of the signal transfer clamp of the electronic target system of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.

FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of the signal transfer clamp of FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C taken substantially along line 4D-4D of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4E is a cross-sectional view of the signal transfer clamp of FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C taken substantially along line 4E-4E of FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4F is a cross-sectional view of the signal transfer clamp of FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C taken substantially along line 4F-4F of FIG. 4C.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are front elevational, right side elevational, bottom plan, and top front right perspective views, respectively, of the control module of the electronic target system of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of certain components of the control module of the electronic target system of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process for detecting a hit in a sector using the electronic target system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process for determining the capacitance of a sector using the electronic target system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process for determining the change in capacitance of a sector using the electronic target system of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following numbered headings are included for clarity, and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate one embodiment of the electronic target system 100 of the present disclosure. In this illustrated embodiment, the electronic target system 100 includes: a target 200, a signal transfer clamp 300, a cable 400, and a control module 500. The components of the electronic target system 100 and the operation of the electronic target system 100 are described in detail below.

1. TARGET

As best shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the target 200 has a front side 200 a and a back side 200 b. The target 200 includes or otherwise defines a plurality of distinct sectors 210 a, 210 b, 210 c, 210 d, and 210 e each having a particular shape. Here, the sector 210 a has a circular shape and the sectors 210 b, 210 c, 210 d, and 210 e each take the shape of a quarter annulus. The target 200 may include any suitable quantity of sectors that take any suitable size and any suitable shape.

Generally, the target is formed by introducing conductive material onto the front and back sides of a substrate of dielectric material to form one or more sectors. The dielectric material may be paper, polypropylene, air, silicone, cotton, epoxy, tin, glass, wax, wax paper, acrylic, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or any other suitable dielectric material. The substrate of dielectric material may take any suitable size and any suitable shape.

More specifically, in certain embodiments, a sector is formed by printing conductive ink in the desired shape of the sector on both the front side and the back side of the substrate of dielectric material in a desired location. This results in the substrate of dielectric material being sandwiched between the conductive ink. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the target 200 through the sector 210 d. Here, the sector 210 d is formed by: (1) printing conductive ink 202 a in the shape of a quarter annulus on the front side 201 a of the substrate of dielectric material 201; and (2) printing conductive ink 202 b in the shape of a quarter annulus on the back side 201 b of the substrate of dielectric material 201 such that a portion of the substrate of dielectric material 201 is sandwiched between two substantially identically-sized quarter annuluses of conductive ink. Since the conductive ink 202 sandwiches the substrate of dielectric material 201 therebetween, the sector 210 d acts as a sheet capacitor and thus can be charged, discharged, and read as a capacitor. The remaining sectors 210 a, 210 b, 210 c, and 210 e in this example embodiment are formed in a similar manner.

Sectors can be screen printed onto the substrate of dielectric material with use of conductive inks such as copper, carbon, silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, graphene, or any other conductive ink material. Sectors can also be inkjet printed onto the substrate of dielectric material with the use of conductive inks such as copper, carbon, silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, graphene, or any other conductive ink material.

In other embodiments, a sector is formed by attaching one conductive metal sheet having the desired shape of the sector to the front side of the substrate of dielectric material and another substantially identically-sized conductive metal sheet to the back side of the substrate of dielectric material such that the substrate of dielectric material is sandwiched between the two conductive metal sheets. The metal sheet technique can use conductive metal tape such as copper, silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, graphene, or any other conductive material. In various embodiments, the target includes sectors formed in different manners.

In certain instances, a sector could short if the target folds and the conductive material on the front side of the target contacts the conductive material on the back side of the target. To eliminate the potential for shorting, in certain embodiments the conductive material (and certain other exposed portions of the front and back sides of the substrate of dielectric material that do not include conductive material) are coated with an electrically insulating material. The electrically insulating material may be paper, polypropylene, silicone, cotton, epoxy, tin, glass, wax, wax paper, acrylic, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or any other suitable electrically insulating material. Different portions of the target, such as different sectors, may be coated with electrically insulating materials of different colors to visibly distinguish the sectors. In embodiments in which the lighting devices 520 of the control module 500 (described below) have different colored lights, the electrically insulating material of a particular sector has the same (or similar) color as that of the light of the corresponding lighting device. In certain embodiments, the leads (described below) are coated with electrically insulating material.

For example, FIG. 3A shows an electrically insulating material 203 a coating the conductive ink 202 a and an electrically insulating material 203 b coating the conductive ink 202 b. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the target 200 through a portion that does not include conductive ink, and shows the electrically insulating material 203 a coating the front side 201 a of the substrate of dielectric material 201 and the electrically insulating material 203 b coating the back side 201 b of the substrate of dielectric material 201. FIG. 3C is an end-on view of the target 200 at the lead/clamp interface 230 c′ (described below) that includes conductive ink 202 a coating the front side 201 a of the substrate of dielectric material 201 and conductive ink 202 b coating the back side 201 b of the substrate of dielectric material 201, but does not include electrically insulating material. In this embodiment, the lead/clamp interfaces 230 and 230′ are not coated with any electrically insulating material to enable a proper electrical connection between the lead/clamp interfaces 230 and 230′ and the signal transfer clamp 300, as described below. In certain embodiments, the leads (described below) are coated with electrically insulating material.

As best shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the target 200 includes a plurality of leads 220 (on the front side 200 a of the target 200) and 220′ (on the back side 200 b of the target 200) and a plurality of lead/clamp interfaces 230 (on the front side 200 a of the target 200) and 230′ (on the back side 200 b of the target 200). The leads 220 and 220′ and the lead/clamp interfaces 230 and 230′ are printed onto the substrate of dielectric material 201, embedded into the substrate of dielectric material 201, or otherwise attached to or integrated with the substrate of dielectric material 201.

Each lead 220 and 220′ electrically connects one of the sectors 210 to one of the lead/clamp interfaces 230 and 230′. Specifically, in this illustrated embodiment: (1) each lead 220 a electrically connects the sector 210 a to the lead/clamp interface 230 a, (2) each lead 220 b electrically connects the sector 210 b to the lead/clamp interface 230 b, (3) each lead 220 c electrically connects the sector 210 c to the lead/clamp interface 230 c, (4) each lead 220 d electrically connects the sector 210 d to the lead/clamp interface 230 d, (5) each lead 220 e electrically connects the sector 210 e to the lead/clamp interface 230 e, (6) each lead 220 a′ electrically connects the sector 210 a to the lead/clamp interface 230 a′, (7) each lead 220 b′ electrically connects the sector 210 b to the lead/clamp interface 230 b′, (8) each lead 220 c′ electrically connects the sector 210 c to the lead/clamp interface 230 c′, (9) each lead 220 d′ electrically connects the sector 210 d to the lead/clamp interface 230 d′, and (10) each lead 220 e′ electrically connects the sector 210 e to the lead/clamp interface 230 e′.

The leads may be made of a conductive material similar to that used to form the sectors, such as conductive ink or a conductive metal sheet(s), but can differ for reliability and/or cost effectiveness. In this illustrated embodiment, both the front side of the target and the back side of the target include the leads and the lead/clamp interfaces. In other embodiments, only one side of the target includes the leads and the lead/clamp interfaces.

False positives may occur if a projectile hits a lead. If the leads are located at the same position on both the front and back sides of the target, significant capacitance would exist between the leads. If a hit were to occur where two leads are symmetrically overlaid (e.g., a projectile pierces the two leads), a drop in capacitance would occur and the controller would determine a false positive hit. To minimize false positives, the leads electrically connecting the same sector to a lead/clamp interface, but on different sides of the target (e.g., the leads 220 a and 220 a′), are spaced from one another so capacitance between the leads is insignificant. In this embodiment, if a projectile hits a lead, capacitance will not be substantially affected.

In this example embodiment, for each lead/clamp interface, three distinct, spaced-apart leads electrically connect that lead/clamp interface to one of the sectors. The use of multiple distinct leads to electrically connect a particular lead/clamp interface to a particular sector increases the longevity of the target by introducing redundancy. So, if fewer than all of the three leads break (e.g., when hit by a projectile), at least one lead still electrically connects the lead/clamp interface to the sector. The target can include any suitable quantity of redundant leads, and the arrangement of those leads can vary depending on the layout of the sectors.

2. SIGNAL TRANSFER CLAMP

The signal transfer clamp 300 electrically connects the lead/clamp interfaces 230 and 230′ to the cable 400. As best shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F, the signal transfer clamp 300 includes a first or upper portion 310 removably connected to a second or lower portion 320 such that an inner surface 312 of the upper portion 310 and an inner surface 322 of the lower portion 320 form a target receiving cavity 330 therebetween. The inner surface 312 of the upper portion 310 includes five spaced-apart conducting plates 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d, and 312 e that respectively and individually electrically connect to the respective sectors 210 of the front side 200 a of the target 200 at the lead/clamp interfaces 230. The inner surface 322 of the lower portion 320 is made of one solid conducting plate (or in other embodiments multiple conducting plates) that spans across the entire surface of the lower portion 310 and electrically connects to the respective sectors 210′ of the back side 200 b of the target 200 at the lead/clamp interfaces 230′. The conducting plates may be made of metal or any other suitable conducting material, or may be any suitable conducting connector aside from plates (e.g., Pogo pins).

The signal transfer clamp 300 also defines a cable-receiving cavity 301 configured to receive an end of the cable 400.

The signal transfer clamp 300 is mounted onto the target 200 such that the upper and lower portions 310 and 320 of the signal transfer clamp 300 sandwich the target 200 therebetween, and a portion of the target 200 is positioned within the void 330. Specifically, the target 200 is positioned within the void 330 such that the lead/clamp interfaces 230 a, 230 b, 230 c, 230 d, and 230 e contact the conducting plates 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d, and 312 e, respectively, and the lead/clamp interfaces 230 a′, 230 b′, 230 c′, 230 d′, and 230 e′ contact the conducting plate of the inner surface 322 of the lower portion 320 of the signal transfer clamp 300. The target 200 is held with a clamping or friction force created by the conducting plates 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d, and 312 e and the conducting plate of the inner surface 322 of the signal transfer clamp 300.

In another embodiment, the target 200 is positioned within the void 330 such that the lead/clamp interfaces 230 a′, 230 b′, 230 c′, 230 d′, and 230 e′ contact the conducting plates 312 a, 312 b, 312 c, 312 d, and 312 e, respectively, and the lead/clamp interfaces 230 a, 230 b, 230 c, 230 d, and 230 e contact the conducting plate of the inner surface 322 of the lower portion 320 of the signal transfer clamp 300.

In certain embodiments (not shown), the upper and lower portions are hingedly connected such that they are movable between a clamped configuration and an unclamped configuration. A biasing element (such as a torsion spring) biases the upper and lower portions to the clamped configuration. In these embodiments, to mount the signal transfer clamp to the target, a user overcomes the force imposed by the biasing element to move the upper and lower portions to the unclamped configuration, inserts the target between the upper and lower portions, and then allows the biasing element to bias the upper and lower portions back to the clamped configuration to clamp the target between the upper and lower portions. The signal transfer clamp may attach to the target in any other suitable manner.

3. CABLE

The cable 400 electrically connects the signal transfer clamp 300 and the control module 500. The cable 400 is removable and replaceable, and can vary in length. The design of the cable may be similar to that of a typical Ethernet cable or equivalent cabling. The cable transmits the electrical charge and discharge of the capacitors from the signal transfer clamp 300 to the control module 500. One wire acts as ground. The remaining wires are allocated for each capacitor (i.e., sector).

4. CONTROL MODULE

The control module 500 is configured to process information about the state of the target 200, control the lighting devices (described below), and communicate with a mobile device of the user (such as a mobile phone of the user or a tablet computing device of the user) through a suitable communication interface. As best shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 6, the control module 500 includes a housing 510; a plurality of lighting devices 520 a, 520 b, 520 c, 520 d, and 520 e disposed on an exterior of the housing 510; a housing mounting implement 530 disposed on the exterior of the housing 510; a cable receiving port 505 defined by the housing 510; a controller 540 housed within the housing 510; and five capacitance-to-frequency converters 553—one corresponding to each sector of the target 200—housed within the housing 510.

The controller 540 (here, a microcontroller) includes, in this example embodiment, a pre-built chip set used to supply power to and compute data received from each sector's components. The controller may be any suitable processing device.

Each individual capacitance-to-frequency converter module 553 (in this example embodiment, an astable multivibrator) includes: (1) a ground connector 541 that enables electrical connection to a suitable ground source; (2) a first power connector 542 that enables electrical connection to a suitable power source; (3) a capacitor 543; (4) a 555 timer integrated circuit (IC) 544; (5) a controller connector 545 that enables electrical connection to the controller 540; (6) a first resistor 546; (7) a second resistor 547; (8) a signal transfer clamp connector 548 that enables electrical connection to the signal transfer clamp 300; and (9) a second power connector 549 that enables electrical connection to the power source.

The ground connector 541 is electrically connected to a suitable ground source (such as via the controller 540) to ground the 555 timer IC 544. The first and second power connectors 542 and 549 are electrically connected to a suitable power source (described below) (such as via the controller 540) to power the 555 timer IC 544. The capacitor 543 is set between the ground connector 541 and the 555 timer IC 544 to prevent interference that could otherwise render the 555 timer IC 544 inaccurate. The first resistor 546 and the second resistor 547, which has less than half the resistance of the first resistor 546, are set between the 555 timer IC 544 and the second power connector 549 and control the frequency of the charge and discharge cycles of the capacitance of the corresponding sector (described below). These resistors 546 and 547 are used in conjunction with the 555 timer IC 544 and set between the 555 timer IC 544 and the signal transfer clamp connector 548 to establish the correct frequency of charge and discharge rate of the capacitance of the sector. The 555 timer IC 544 is electrically connected to the controller 540 via the controller connector 545 to enable the 555 timer IC 544 to send the controller 540 the frequency relating to the capacitance of the corresponding sector.

The signal transfer clamp connector 548 is electrically connected to a suitable connector of an electrical connector 551 disposed in or near the cable receiving port 505. The electrical connector 551 is configured to electrically connect the capacitance-to-frequency converters 553 with the cable 400, which in turn electrically connects to the signal transfer clamp 300, which in turn electrically connects with the target 200 (and specifically, the leads and lead/clamp interfaces). Here, a ground connector 552 electrically connects the electrical connector 551 to a suitable ground source (such as via the controller 540) used to ground the leads 220′ of the back side 200 b of the target 200.

Although not shown, a communication interface, such as a Bluetooth or WiFi module, is connected to the controller. The communication interface is configured to communicatively connect with a user device, such as a mobile phone or a tablet computing device. When the controller detects a hit in these embodiments, information related to the hit may be transmitted to the user device via the communication interface for analysis and display. Other wireless transmission modules may be used in place of Bluetooth or WiFi where extended range of connection is necessary. In certain embodiments, the control module may be networked or meshed with other control modules using the communication interface, such as Bluetooth or WiFi, to enable competitive or game-like features.

To ensure safety at a shooting range, in certain embodiments the controller is filled with an insulating, shock-absorbing material to reduce shrapnel, such as electronic epoxy potting used to contain the electronics as one solid unit. The housing also provides water resistance for use in adverse outdoor conditions with the use of rubber gaskets at all connection points.

Each lighting device 520 corresponds to a different one of the sectors. The lighting devices may be any suitable lighting devices, such as incandescent bulbs or light-emitting diodes. The lighting devices 520 may emit the same color light or different color light. As described below, once a hit is detected in a sector, the controller 540 activates one of the lighting devices 520 corresponding to that sector for a designated period of time. Blink patterns of the lighting devices 520 can also be used in embodiments in which competitive or game-like features are implemented. In one example, the controller 540 lights a certain lighting device 520, and the user must hit the corresponding sector 510 with a projectile. In this example, the controller 540 may light the lighting devices in a particular order or for particular periods of time. For one game, the controller lights a first lighting device and waits to detect a hit of the sector corresponding to the first lighting device. After detecting the hit, the controller stops lighting the first device and lights a second lighting device (according to a random or predetermined order) and waits to detect a hit of the sector corresponding to the second lighting device, and so on until the controller detects hits of all sectors of all of the lighting devices lit during the game. The controller may determine the time it takes the user to hit all of the corresponding sectors. For another game, the controller lights a first lighting device. If the controller detects a hit in the sector corresponding to the first lighting device before a first time period expires or if the first time period expires, the controller stops lighting the first lighting device and starts lighting a second lighting device, and repeats the process. The controller may determine how many hits the user achieved within the requisite time periods as well as the total time it took the user to complete the game. Controllers of different control modules could communicate with one another to enable game functionality, such as users competing head-to-head or a single user using multiple targets of multiple systems to play a game. These are merely examples, and any of a variety of different games may be employed. The controller could communicatively connect with an offsite server configured to store game results and enable users to access game results to compare their results with others. The server could create leader boards for each game showing the top scores or times.

In certain embodiments, a single multi-color lighting device can replace the lighting devices 520 to reduce cost and size. In these embodiments, each sector is associated with a different color of the multi-color lighting device, and the controller lights the appropriate color responsive to detecting a hit in a sector.

The method for mounting the control module 500 varies depending on the environment of the shooting range. The back of the control module 500 has rail-mounting system 530 for attachments. Mounting methods include, but are not limited to, spring-based clipping and arm-and-swivel with magnetic or suction-based attachment to the range environment.

The power source for the controller 540 (and the electronic target system generally) may be any suitable power source. In certain embodiments, the power source includes a battery, such as (but not limited to) a lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, NiCad, NiMH, or alkaline battery.

5. OPERATION

In operation, the controller 540 generally monitors the capacitance of and the change in capacitance of each sector. When a sector's capacitance changes at least a designated amount—which may occur when a projectile pierces the sector and reduces the sector's area—the controller 540 determines that the sector has been hit. The controller 540 activates the lighting device associated with the hit sector to indicate the hit to a user. In certain embodiments, the controller 540 transmits information associated with the hit sector to the user's personal computing device, such as the user's mobile phone, tablet computer, or laptop computer, via the communication interface.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process 700 for detecting a hit in a particular sector using the electronic target system of the present disclosure. Although the process 700 is described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, many other processes of performing the acts associated with this illustrated process 700 may be employed. For example, the order of certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be changed, certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be optional, or certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may not be employed.

The process 700 describes the process for detecting a hit in a single sector. The controller 540 performs the process 700—either simultaneously, at least partially simultaneously, or serially—for each of the sectors of the target. For a particular sector, the controller 540 first determines the capacitance of the sector based on information obtained from the corresponding capacitance-to-frequency converter 553, as indicated by block 702, and uses the determined capacitance to determine the change in capacitance of the sector, as indicated by block 704. The process 800 of determining the capacitance of the sector is described below with respect to FIG. 8 and the process 900 of determining the change in capacitance of the sector is described below with respect to FIG. 9.

After determining the change in capacitance of the sector, the controller 540 determines if a hit mode (described below) is on, as indicated by diamond 706. If the controller 540 determines at diamond 706 that the hit mode is not on, the controller 540 determines if the sector's capacitance changed at least a designated amount, as indicated by diamond 708. The designated amount is determined based on the area of the sector, the sector's total capacitance, and the area a particular projectile removes and displaces. If the controller 540 determines at diamond 708 that the sector's capacitance has not changed at least the designated amount, the process 700 proceeds to block 716, described below.

If, on the other hand, the controller 540 determines at diamond 708 that the sector's capacitance has changed at least the designated amount, the controller 540 determines that the sector has been hit (e.g., pierced by a projectile), as indicated by block 710. The controller 540 turns the hit mode on, as indicated by block 712. The hit mode indicates whether the target was recently hit to assess when the target stabilizes (described below). The controller 540 also activates the lighting device associated with the sector to indicate the hit to the user, as indicated by block 714. The controller 540 then waits a period of time, as indicated by block 716, before returning to block 702 and restarting the process 700.

Returning to diamond 706, if the controller 540 determines that the hit mode is on, the controller 540 determines if the sector is stabilized, as indicated by diamond 718. The controller 540 determines that the sector is stabilized when the sector's change in capacitance is less than half of the designated amount. If the controller 540 determines that the sector is not stabilized, the process 700 proceeds to block 716, described above. If, on the other hand, the controller 540 determines at diamond 718 that the sector is stabilized, the controller 540 turns the hit mode off, as indicated by block 720, and deactivates the lighting device associated with the sector, as indicated by diamond 722. The process 700 proceeds to block 716, described above.

In certain embodiments, the controller 540 creates and transmits data logs associated with one or more steps of the process via the communication interface to a personal device of the user, such as the user's mobile phone, tablet computer, or laptop computer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process 800 for determining the capacitance of a particular sector using the electronic target system of the present disclosure. Although the process 800 is described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, many other processes of performing the acts associated with this illustrated process 800 may be employed. For example, the order of certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be changed, certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be optional, or certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may not be employed.

The process 800 describes the process for determining the capacitance of a single sector. The controller 540 and the capacitance-to-frequency converters 553 (and particularly the 555 timer ICs 554) perform the process 800—either simultaneously, at least partially simultaneously, or serially—for each of the sectors of the target. For a particular sector, the 555 timer IC 554 of the capacitance-to-frequency converter 55 begins charging the sector capacitor, as indicated by block 802. The 555 timer IC 554 then determines if the sector capacitor has reached 63% of its maximum charging voltage—which corresponds to one time constant—as indicated by diamond 804. If not, the process 800 returns to block 802 and the 555 timer IC 554 continues charging the sector capacitor.

If, on the other hand, the 555 timer IC determines at diamond 804 that the sector capacitor has reached 63% of its maximum charging voltage, the 555 timer IC 554: (1) sends a pulse signal to the controller 540, as indicated by block 808; and (2) discharges the sector capacitor, as indicated by block 806, after which the process 800 returns to block 802. The sector is charged and discharged in the range of thousands of times per second depending on the capacitance.

As indicated by blocks 810, 812, and 814, as the controller 540 receives the pulse signals from the 555 timer IC 554, the controller 540 monitors for a rising edge pulse. Over the course of a time period, the controller 540 counts the quantity of pulses it receives from the 555 timer IC 554 and determines the frequency of the pulses (i.e., pulses/time). Using this frequency, the controller 540 determines the capacitance of the sector capacitor using the following equations. After determining the capacitance, the controller 540 resets its counter, as indicated by block 816, and the process 800 returns to block 810.

$f = \frac{1}{t_{1} + t_{2}}$ t₁ = 0.693 × R_(A) $t_{2} = {\frac{R_{A} \times R_{B}}{R_{A} + R_{B}} \times C \times {\ln \left( \frac{R_{B} - {2R_{A}}}{{2R_{B}} - R_{A}} \right)}}$

-   -   f=Frequency     -   C=Capacitance     -   R_(A), R_(B)=Resistance, where R_(A)>2R_(B)     -   t₁=Charge time     -   t₂=Discharge time

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process 900 for determining the change in capacitance of a particular sector using the electronic target system of the present disclosure. Although the process 900 is described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, many other processes of performing the acts associated with this illustrated process 900 may be employed. For example, the order of certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be changed, certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be optional, or certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may not be employed.

The process 900 describes the process for determining the change in capacitance of a single sector. The controller 540 performs the process 900—either simultaneously, at least partially simultaneously, or serially—for each of the sectors of the target. Generally, the controller 540 monitors the sector's capacitance over time, and stores a finite number of historical sector capacitance values. The controller 540 uses a software moving average filter to ensure false positives are reduced, though in alternative embodiments this filter can be swapped with other similar filters. The moving average filter keeps two adjacent, equivalent-sized moving average filter windows (a “current moving average filter window” and an “old moving average filter window”) of data over time. This enables the controller 540 to determine the change in capacitance.

More specifically, for a particular sector, the controller 540 first determines the sector's capacitance, as indicated by block 902 and as described above with respect to FIG. 8 and the process 800. The controller 540 appends the sector's capacitance to the end of the current moving average filter window, as indicated by block 904. The controller 540 removes the oldest capacitance from the current moving average filter window, as indicated by block 906, and adds that capacitance removed from the current moving average filter window to the old moving average filter window, as indicated by block 908. The controller 540 removes the oldest capacitance from the old moving average filter window, as indicated by block 910. With the current and old moving average filter windows updated, the controller 540 determines the sector's change in capacitance as the difference between the average values of the moving average filter windows, as indicated by block 912.

In alternative embodiments, a higher level of precision on the position of a hit can be achieved (e.g., where exactly the projectile pierces the sector). When edges of capacitors are significantly close enough in distance, parasitic capacitance exists between the capacitors. Fluctuations in parasitic capacitance between the sheet capacitors may be read to detect the exact position by monitoring for aftershock capacitive fluctuations in sectors adjacent to a sector where a hit was detected. In other embodiments, overlapping, multi-layer capacitors can also be used to increase the number of detectable sectors. If multiple sectors detect that a hit occurred, it can be inferred that the hit was located within the intersection of the multiple sectors. Detection, in both cases, involves the software cross comparing the changes in capacitance in real time.

6. ELECTRONIC TARGET SYSTEM WITH VIBRATION SENSORS

In other embodiments, the electronic target system includes a target including a plurality of vibration sensors (such as piezoelectric sensors), a signal transfer clamp, a cable, and a control module. The vibration sensors are electrically connected to the control module via the signal transfer clamp, the cable, and conductive leads in the target (such as those described above). When one of the vibration sensors senses vibration in the target, the vibration sensor sends a responsive signal to the controller, which determines whether a hit occurred based on that signal.

The vibration caused by a projectile piercing the target produces a unique waveform. The controller compares the signal received from the vibration sensor to this waveform, and determines that a hit occurred when the signal matches the waveform to a particular degree. In instances where other bodies affect the target and cause the vibration sensor to produce a signal—such as wind-produced vibration, human interaction deforming the target, or a nearby projectile causing vibration via its path of travel through the air—the controller filters out and ignores these signals because their waveforms do not match the projectile-piercing waveform. The user or controller can additionally filter these opposing interactions with the target dynamically with a sensitivity threshold controllable via the user's mobile device.

Alternatively, a ground truth vibration sensor will be used in conjunction with the target vibration sensor to compare waveforms created by a hit versus those that exist due to uncontrollable causes in the air.

In certain of these embodiments in which the target is not typically piercable by a projectile—such as a steel target—a “hit” may refer to a projectile contacting the target.

In certain embodiments, use of multiple vibration sensors enables the controller to triangulate the position of the hit and indicate this position to the user.

Certain targets that include vibration blocking elements or characteristics to enable the use of multiple vibration sensors to accurately identify positions of hits. Vibration blocking elements may include (but are not limited to) openings; a media shift (e.g., one type of substrate to another type of substrate); a change in thickness; or a crease or fold. A vibration blocking element either eliminates or significantly reduces vibration. In these embodiments, vibration blocking elements are introduced into the target such that they define individual sectors. Each sector includes its own individual vibration sensor. When a sector is hit, the vibration sensor of that sector will detect the vibration and send the appropriate signal to the signal transfer clamp. Since the vibration blocking elements bordering the sector prevent that vibration from moving into another sector, the controller can accurately position the hit (i.e., determine which sector was hit).

In certain embodiments, one or more of the vibration sensors are piezoelectric elements printed to the target using conductive material, such as conductive ink or conductive metal sheet(s) and piezoelectric ceramics and single crystal materials. The piezoelectric elements are electrically connected to the signal transfer clamp, and can be used in place of (or in addition to) vibration sensors in the signal transfer clamp.

In certain embodiments, the vibration sensors are used in conjunction with the above-described capacitance monitoring embodiments to confirm that the controller correctly determined a hit based on the change in capacitance of a sector. In these embodiments, the controller determines that a hit occurs for a sector when: (1) the controller determines the sector's capacitance changed at least a designated amount; and (2) the controller determines based on vibration sensor feedback that a hit occurred. That is, in these embodiments, two conditions must be met (one based on capacitance, the other based on vibration sensor feedback) before the controller definitively determines that a hit occurred. For instance, a decision diamond could be added immediately before or after diamond 708 in FIG. 7. At this decision diamond, the controller 540 determines based on vibration sensor feedback whether a hit occurred. If yes, the process would continue to diamond 708 or block 710 (depending on whether the decision diamond is added immediately before or after diamond 708). If not, the process would continue to block 716.

In certain embodiments (such as embodiments in which the vibration sensors are not piezoelectric), the substrate of the target may be any suitable material, such as (but not limited to) paper, cardboard, or steel.

7. CONCLUSION

The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive. While specific configurations of the electronic shooting target and method of detection have been described, the present invention can be applied to a wide variety of fields. There are many alternative ways of implementing the invention. 

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. An electronic target system comprising: a target including a substrate of dielectric material, a sector formed from a capacitive material, a lead/clamp interface, and a plurality of leads electrically connecting the sector to the lead/clamp interface; and a controller electrically connectable to the leads via the lead/clamp interface, the controller configured to determine a change in capacitance of the sector over time and to cause an indication of a hit responsive to determining a designated change in the capacitance of the sector.
 2. The electronic target system of claim 1, which includes a signal transfer clamp attachable to the target such that the signal transfer clamp is electrically connected to the lead/clamp interface, the signal transfer clamp electrically connectable to the controller.
 3. The electronic target system of claim 1, which includes a lighting device electrically connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to indicate the hit by causing the lighting device to light up.
 4. The electronic target system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to indicate the hit by causing audio output via a speaker of a mobile device.
 5. The electronic target system of claim 1, which includes a capacitance-to-frequency converter configured to determine and send a frequency to the controller to enable the controller to determine the change in capacitance of the sector.
 6. The electronic target system of claim 5, wherein the capacitance-to-frequency converter is an astable multivibrator.
 7. The electronic target system of claim 1, which includes a communication interface configured to communicatively connect with a mobile device of a user.
 8. The electronic target system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to send, via the communication interface, information related to the hit to the mobile device responsive to determining the designated change in the capacitance of the sector.
 9. The electronic target system of claim 7, wherein the communication interface enables communication with one or more other electronic target systems.
 10. The electronic target system of claim 1, wherein the sector is formed from conductive ink printed on opposing sides of the substrate of dielectric material and the leads are formed from conductive ink.
 11. The electronic target system of claim 1, which includes one or more lighting devices, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the one or more lighting devices in a designated order to facilitate game functionality.
 12. An electronic target system comprising: a target; a vibration sensor attached to the target and configured to generate a signal responsive to detecting a vibration in the target; and a controller electrically connectable to the vibration sensor, wherein responsive to receiving the signal from the vibration sensor, the controller is configured to: (1) use the signal to determine whether a hit occurred; and (2) cause an indication of the hit responsive to determining that the hit occurred.
 13. The electronic target system of claim 12, wherein the vibration sensor includes a piezoelectric sensor.
 14. The electronic target system of claim 13, which includes a plurality of vibration sensors, and wherein responsive to receiving the signals from the vibration sensors and determining that a hit occurred, the controller is configured to triangulate a position of the hit on the target.
 15. The electronic target system of claim 14, wherein the indication includes an indication of the position of the hit.
 16. The electronic target system of claim 12, wherein the target is at least partially formed from at least one of: paper, cardboard, and steel.
 17. The electronic target system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to use the signal to determine whether a hit occurred by comparing the signal to a stored signal indicative of a hit.
 18. The electronic target system of claim 17, wherein the stored signal indicative of a hit represents a waveform caused by a projectile piercing the target, the projectile being a conductive or a non-conductive projectile.
 19. An electronic target system comprising: a target including a substrate of dielectric material, a sector formed from a capacitive material, a lead/clamp interface, and a plurality of leads electrically connecting the sector to the lead/clamp interface; a vibration sensor attached to the target and configured to generate a signal responsive to detecting a vibration in the target; and a controller electrically connectable to the leads via the lead/clamp interface and to the vibration sensor, the controller configured to determine whether a hit occurred based on a change in capacitance of the sector over time and the signal received from the vibration sensor and to cause an indication of the hit responsive to determining a designated change in the capacitance of the sector.
 20. The electronic target system of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the hit occurred when (1) the change in capacitance is a designated change in capacitance and (2) the signal received from the vibration sensor corresponds to a projectile hit signal. 